Osamu Miyanaga

Purification and immunological determination of α2-macroglobulin in serum from injured rats

Abstract Rat α 2 -macroglobulin was isolated and purified from the pooled sera of turpentine-injected rats by sequential use of dextran sulphate, DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration chromatography. The final protein product obtained by this procedure proved to be α 2 -macroglobulin of a high degree of purity based on electrophoretic, immunologic and centrifugal analysis. The α 2 -macroglobulin preparation also binds stoichiometrically to trypsin preventing subsequent inhibition by protein trypsin inhibitors. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of rat α 2 -macroglobulin after incubation with trypsin suggested that there are at least two susceptible peptide bonds in the 170 000-dalton α 2 -macroglobulin subunit. The concentration of α 2 -macroglobulin in the sera of rats was measured by electroimmuno assay using a monospecific antiserum against α 2 -macroglobulin. Purified α 2 -macroglobulin was used as a standard. Sera from normal male rats contained 32 ± 4 μ g of α 2 -macroglobulin per ml. To determine the time course of response of α 2 -macroglobulin to inflammation, rats were subjected to either laparotomy or subcutaneous injection of turpentine. After either type of injury, the concentration of α 2 -macroglobulin increased rapidly, reaching a maximum value of 110–140 times that of the control value by 24 h. Little difference was noted in responsiveness between the two sexes.

A case of cirrhosis with aplastic anemia and hepatocellular carcinoma after interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

症例は62歳女性. 4年前に慢性C型肝炎治療のためインターフェロンの投与を受け, 1996年6月に肝腫瘍が発見されて入院した. 入院時の血液検査で白血球数1, 600/μl, 赤血球数325×104/μl, 血小板数3.8×104/μlと汎血球減少症を伴つていた. さらに, 骨髄像は低形成髄を示し, 骨髄シンチも再生不良性貧血を示唆する所見であった. 本症例の汎血球減少は肝硬変の脾機能亢進症によるものだけでなく, 再生不良性貧血を合併していると診断した. インターフェロン治療後より白血球数, 赤血球数の減少が著明となっているため, 慢性C型肝炎への本療法が再生不良性貧血の原因と思われた.